Cooper Flagg is expected to join the NBA ranks next season as the projected number one pick in the league’s upcoming draft. And as the Duke freshman wows college basketball fans during March Madness, he has also continued to draw attention from prominent voices around the NBA.
That includes current players like Jason Tatum and Seth Curry, both of whom went to Duke and see great things in Flagg’s game.
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Hall of Fame player Charles Barkley, now a TV analyst for TNT and CBS, similarly heaped praise on Flagg last week. And when a prominent sports commentator evoked retired player Kevin Love in a comparison with Flagg, the NBA champion had nothing but love for the freshman phenom from Newport, Maine.
Here’s what each of these current and former NBA players had to say about Cooper Flagg in recent days:
Jason Tatum, Boston Celtics forward
As a guest on the “New Heights” podcast with brothers Jason and Travis Kelce, Tatum discussed his first experience with Flagg when hosting a group of top high school players at one of his JT Elite Camp events two summers ago.
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“The first impression I had of Coop was just how hard he played, how he competed,” Tatum said. “In high school, it’s rare to see a guy that wants to guard the other best player. Trying to block every shot, rebounding. And he just plays the right way. He has a great feel for the game. He knows how to set a screen, he knows when to cut, he likes to get his teammates involved. And it’s been on full display all season, and a big reason why they have a chance to win a championship.”
Charles Barkley, retired Hall of Famer and current TV analyst
NBA legend Charles Barkley has never shied away from calling it like he sees it as a TV analyst, and he didn’t hold back when talking about Flagg on the “Dan Patrick Show” Friday. Patrick asked Barkley for a player comparison, wondering who Barkley sees when watching Flagg play.
“I see Cooper Flagg. I see he’s a terrific young player,” Barkley responded. “He looks amazing on television, can’t wait to see him in the NBA.”
Barkley said he hates when people on television try to compare young players to NBA players, calling it unfair to everyone involved.
“This kid is really talented, he’s really smart, I can’t wait to meet him,” Barkley said. “He seems like a really nice kid. Because he could have had what in my day we called a ‘big head.’ He was the best high school player in the country, he came in with all the pressure on him, and he’s lived up to the hype.”
Kevin Love, retired NBA champion
Speaking of Dan Patrick, the longtime sports journalist and commentator evoked former NBA player and champion Kevin Love when talking about Flagg last week. While discussing the astronomically high expectations being directed at the Duke freshman right now, Patrick said that if Flagg ends up having an NBA career like Love, who won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers but was hampered by injuries later in his career, it would probably be considered a disappointment.
Love responded in a classy way on X, previously known as Twitter.
“For those who will take this as a shot at me… I don’t take it as such,” Love posted. “I was pure skill and will. Cooper is far more talented than I ever was and if he stays healthy will have a far better career. He could very well have a statue by the time he’s finished. I’m a HUGE fan.”
Patrick later clarified that his comments weren’t a reflection on Love, who he called a “borderline Hall of Famer,” but were instead meant to convey his thoughts about Flagg facing unfairly high expectations.
Seth Curry, Charlotte Hornets guard
Seth Curry played some of his college ball at Duke, and now plays in the NBA for the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte is one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, and thus has some of the best odds to land Flagg by winning the NBA draft lottery.
Curry spoke with TMZ sports last week about Duke’s run in the tournament, including Flagg’s ability on the court.
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“He’s special, man. He’s special. He does it all on both ends. I wouldn’t say he doesn’t have a weakness, but he can do everything you ask of him on the offensive end of the floor,” Curry said about Flagg. “He can play that point forward where he’s running the show, take over at times scoring the ball, he can get his teammates involved, he can shoot the [jump shot], get to the free throw line, whatever. And then defensively, he’s one of the best defenders in the country already at that age. I think it’s going to translate well to the next level as well. I can’t wait to see him finish out this year and have a long career.”
Curry said he would be surprised if Flagg didn’t become a multiple-time all-star in the NBA.
“He does it all. He has that competitive edge, too. Like, he’s nasty,” Curry continued. “At that age, he’s confident as they come and he ain’t afraid of anything.”
